Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States. It's supposed to be a day to honor those who died in our country's wars. Instead, the day has turned into a weird orgy of politics and picnics. 

Because of a phrase I hear repetitively on this day, I'm going to make a suggestion that will raise the ire of some of you, so please read through my reasoning before you launch into a tirade.

Please don't tell a service member, "Thank you for your service." They've become meaningless words in our society.

The same people who say them vote for candidates who go out of their way to take away the services our veterans need. The same people who say them are careless about the constitution the service members uphold. The same people who say them don't have the courage to join any of the military branches.

Instead, DO something to show your appreciation!

Does your Vietnam vet neighbor need his yard mowed? Does the Afghan veteran in her wheel chair need ramps to get into her school, place of worship, or home? What about giving the kids who are currently serving and who frequent your restaurant or shop with their spouse and children a discount?

Please give the service people you know a little help. It means so much more to them than empty platitudes.

And if you already do, thank you.

Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day hits a little harder than usual after so many losses last year. Hold your loved ones tight, remember those you've lost, and enjoy life this weekend.

Memorial Day

 

Today's a day to remember those you've lost. Especially those who died in war.

Memorial Day

This is supposed to be the day to remember all those who lost their lives in our country's wars. For those of you who have lost someone in war, remember the good things about your loved ones.

Coronavirus Pandemic Day 75 - Remember the Dead

Over 98,000 dead in the U.S. alone on this Memorial Day, and yet there's no public mourning. The federal government's reaction is atrocious. Even worse, many officials say the dead are simply a price to be paid for our way of life.. What does that say about us as a nation?

This week most states have lifted the last restrictions regarding businesses. Many people are gathering for the long holiday weekend.

Except COVID-19 is not gone. People are still infected, still spreading the infection, and they are gathering in greater numbers than they have in the last two and a half months. With an incubation period of two to fourteen days, what's going to happen in the middle of June?

Stay safe, everyone!

A Long Holiday Weekend

I didn't post this morning. I'd stayed up until 4 a.m. getting words in on Hero De Jure. By the time I got up, DH and I needed to get some errands run. By the time we got everything done, it was almost time for Jeopardy.

Not that we're obsessed or anything with that show. LOL

One of the stops today was Hallmark. Stores reopened this weekend in Ohio. Normally, I'm buying graduation and birthday cards this time of the year, and I did buy one of each. The rest...the rest were condolence cards.

That's the problem. Death happens, but so many of these were preventable. And a lot of the people also running errands today think they're immune or that COVID-19 is a hoax. I have too many grieving friends to think it's a hoax or that anyone is immune.

So DH and I are tucked back in our apartment for the weekend, cleaning, playing games, and watching TV and movies. Trying to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy and alive.

I hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday weekend.

Remember

My family has been lucky. Anyone who has served in the U.S. military in the last four generations has come home. This hasn't been true for so many others, and I grieve with them.

Today is a day for remembering those we have lost, but I would add a special message for those of you who made it back.

Talk to those of us at home. Tell us about the friends, the comrades, the brothers and sisters you've lost. You're right. We don't know what it's like on the battlefield. That doesn't mean we don't care, that we don't want to know.

Tell us about Harvey, who fed that starving French mutt half his rations. Jim, who entertained everyone with his card tricks and boasted he would make his fortune in Las Vegas when he got home. Lee, who shared the issues of Asimov's Science Fiction his sister sent him even though most of you in the unit hated SF.

Tell us. Let us help you remember and honor them by sharing their stories.

A Moment of Silence for Everyone Who Served Our Country